2014 Kia Cadenza

What is it?

Kia is shifting its priorities in 2013. The company is coming off an all-time-best sales year and has been named the eighth-largest vehicle brand in the U.S. by volume. Now Kia is hoping to be known as aspirational, rather than just affordable. Enter the 2014 Kia Cadenza, its all-new flagship sedan.

Kia is careful not to call it a luxury model, but considers it more than just a large sedan. Deeming it "premium," Kia says the Cadenza fills a need for buyers who want to move up from their best-selling Optima sedan, or who seek premium features but don't want to pay a luxury-brand price.

The Cadenza is only new to the U.S., as it has been selling in Korea under the K7 moniker since 2009.

The 2014 Kia Cadenza is offered with only one powertrain: a 3.3-liter V6 engine that makes use of fuel-efficient, direct-injection technology. It puts out 293 hp at 6400 rpm and 255 lb-ft at 5200 rpm. That makes it the most powerful V6 Kia has ever sold in the U.S.

Power is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission with standard paddle shifters. (Ughhh. –Ed.)

Sixty percent of the Cadenza is made with high-tensile steel.

The Cadenza is offered in a single trim level, and available with Premium and the “fully loaded” Technology packages.

The top-of-the-line Technology package adds 19-inch alloy wheels, electric parking brake, smart cruise control that can completely stop the vehicle and will tag along with the car in front in stop-and-go traffic, water-repellant front side windows, blind-spot detection with lane-change assist and a lane-departure warning system.

What is it like to drive?

We tested the Cadenza on a predetermined route from San Francisco up the windy U.S. Highway 1 to the Napa Valley. The drive was beautiful, and the Cadenza fit right in.

The 3.3-liter V6 engine's power isn't great off the line, but our guess is that most shoppers in this segment won't mind. Power is there when you need it, and the Cadenza gets up to speed with smooth shifts from the six-speed automatic.

The electronic-assisted steering system was weighted well, with enough resistance to keep the sedan cruising comfortably between the lines.

We consider the Cadenza a buttoned-up Optima, with slightly more refinement and space, and some additional features. The Cadenza is 4.8 inches longer overall than the Optima, with a 2-inch longer wheelbase and it's1 inch taller in height. The added space is most noticeable from the back seat, but the Cadenza also boasts the most head room, space up front and the largest interior volume among competitors.

The 2014 Cadenza has a premium look. It maintains Kia's “tiger nose” grille, with LED positioning lights and quad projection beam headlights accented by stretched character lines on the hood. The Cadenza has broad shoulders, a contoured hood, large wheels and a wide stance.

The eye-catching lights carry throughout the design with side-mirror-integrated LED lights, and high-mounted LED taillights.

The sedan is long, and while it had no problem bending through the winding Highway 1, a large turning radius made parking difficult.

Inside, Kia engineers have made the Cadenza whisper quiet with three-layer insulation on the dashboard, triple-seal door closures and noise dampers under the body.

The interior is highlighted by dark wood-grain accents and soft-touch materials. Our tester had the optional digital instrument cluster, which had a clean look. The centerpiece of the dashboard is the standard 8-inch high-resolution display screen that shows off Kia's updated UVO eServices telematics system. Registered owners can access the system to connect their vehicle to their smartphone or the Internet, share Google Maps, receive maintenance updates and stream music.

Leather is standard on the Cadenza, and our tester featured the optional napa leather. Even after hours on the road the seats remained comfortable and supportive.

Up front, storage isn't huge with a small glovebox and center console. But there are two covered areas: two cup holders and a place for a cell phone complete with USB, AUX and cigarette lighter ports.

Do I want it?

Kia won't give specifics on pricing until we're closer to the on-sale date in late May, but it will say that the base model will land in the mid-$30,000 range, while the fully loaded version will top out in the low $40,000s. At that price, the Cadenza is very well equipped and won't disappoint shoppers who seek a comfortable, spacious sedan with a technology-heavy interior and fresh design, without carrying the cachet of a luxury brand.

The Cadenza probably isn't the right vehicle for a growing family: reaching LATCH connections for car-seat hookup was difficult, windowsills are high and may be difficult for children to see out of, and while the cargo area is wide and deep, rear seats don't fold down.